Natural Resources Committee hears three Environmental Quality Council nominations

Lincoln — The Natural Resources Committee on Monday heard three nominations to the Nebraska Environmental Quality Council, receiving biographical remarks and questions about industry ties and regulatory compliance from members of both parties.

Chair Senator Brandt opened the session and introduced Lance Hedquist, a reappointment representing municipal government and the city administrator of South Sioux City. Hedquist described community projects that he said advanced local sanitation and recycling, including methane capture at the city sewer plant, a pilot that incorporated plastic bags into a 4,000‑foot section of asphalt, and plans to sell renewable natural gas generated at the plant. "We've just built a line that we open up this spring that'll take it to our new renewable natural gas facility," Hedquist said, describing the project as producing renewable gas that will be sold on the market.

The committee then considered Jessica Kolterman of Seward, who serves as director of administration for Lincoln Premium Poultry and is a Seward city council member. Kolterman faced pointed questioning about public opposition and published inspection data that opponents cited. Senator Bridal noted that "multiple sources cite Lincoln Premium Poultry has violated USDA's salmonella standards 93% of the time for all inspections conducted between 2020 and 2024," and asked how that history relates to her service on the council. Kolterman replied that the report was produced by "an anti‑agriculture organization" and that the underlying USDA database is not fully current; she told senators the company had sought state‑level permit mechanisms for growers and had adopted environmental compliance measures beyond state requirements. "We actually went above and beyond what was required by the state of Nebraska," Kolterman said.

Kevin Peterson of Osceola closed the nomination hearings. Peterson, a fifth‑generation farmer who said he has served on the EQC since 2021, described on‑farm nutrient management practices, saying his operation has "organically fertilize[d] 300 acres of the effluent created by our hog operation" and that agronomists help ensure safe application. Committee members asked about monitoring of nitrates, meeting schedules for the council and other operational details.

No formal actions or committee votes on the nominations were recorded during the hearing. Committee members said they would follow up as needed with staff or the nominees on technical clarifications raised during the questioning.